Draft yoke



Mar. 27, E923.

E. F'. KINNE DRAFT YOKE Filed Aug. 15, 1921 M5653- @@MM f below.

Patented ifiar. 27, i923.

EDMUND IP. KINNE. OF ALLIANCE, OHIO, ASSIGNOR T0 AMERICAN STEEL FOUNDRIES, 0F CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION 0F NEW JERSEY.

DRAFT YOKE.

Application filed August 15, 1921.

lie it known that l. llnMU'Nn P. KiNNE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Alliance, in the county of Stark and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful linprovelnents in Draft Yokes, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a new and improved draft yoke and more particularly to means for securing iu place a key in such vokes.

ln certain types of draft yokes it is necessary that the head of the key not extend above the top surface of the ends of the yoke which embrace the coupler butt.v

Further` in such yokes with vertically extending keys` it is highly desirable that the key be secured in place from below. This avoids the necessity of taking down the draft rear when removingthe key to release or disconnect the coupler butt.

ln certain constructions, means are provided attached to the lower face of the draft yoke arm in order to support the key from Such constructions unduly complicate the draft yoke casting and require a number of small parts.

It is an object of the present invention to provide new and improved draft yoke and associated key such that the key does not extend beyond the upper face of the yoke.

It is a further object to provide a key of this character which is supported from the upper arm of the yoke but which may be removed from below the yoke without taking' down the yoke or draft gear.

It is another object to provide a key which prevents the yoke arms from springing apart and yet which is entirely removable from one side of the yoke.

It is an additional object to provide a device of this character which is simple in design and construction and composed of comparatively few parts.

It is also an object to provide a device which can be readily applied and easily removed. Other and further objects will appear as the description proceeds.

In the form selected for illustration, my

invention comprises a key adapted to extend through openings in the draft yoke arms, the key beingprovided with a shouldered portion adapted to engage one arm. The

Serial No. 492,321.

The securing member is provided with a shank extending through the key so that it may be operated from the shouldered end of the key The end of the key with which the securing member is associated is provided with a transverse slotted portion adapted to receive the securing member when the latter is rotated to its transverse position. The securing member is movable longitudinally of the key to lit within said slot. A nut is provided upon theshank of the securing member to lock it in the desired position.

li have illustrated\ a preferred embodiment of my invention in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a side elevation of a draft yoke equipped with my key construction.

Figure 2 is a view of Figure 1 as seen from above.

F igure 3 is a transverse section taken on line 3--3 of Figure 1.

Referringr to the drawings; the draft yoke 4 has the upper arm 5 and the lower arm 6, these arms being provided with the'openings 7 and 8 respectively. The key 9 has the shouldered head l0 which, as shown, bears against the lower face of the arm 6. The body of the key extends through the two arms, its upper face not extendinof beyond the upper face of the upper arm. -This key is provided with the transverse slot 11 upon its upper end.

The securing member 12 is of such size and shape as to lie within the contour of the key when turned in one position. rlhis Amember 12 is provided with the shank 13 which extends through a longitudinal bore in the key, and on the lower end of this shank are fitted the washer 14 and nut 15. Recesses 16 are provided in the upper faoe of the arm 5 adapted to receive the ends of the securing member 12 when the latter is turned to its transverse position as best shown in Figure 2.

In assemblmg my key with the draft yoke, the coupler shankv 17, which is indicated in the forward ends of the coup er arms.

broken lines in Figure 1, is assed between securing member 12 is loosened in relation to the key and is turned to come within the contour of the key. The key is then inserted from below, passing through the openings 8 and 7 and through the opening' in the coupler butt. The securing member 12 is then turned to its transverse position by means of the shank 13 and is dropped down into the recesses 1G in the arm 5 and into the recess 11. in the end of the key. The nut 15 is screwed up to clamp the securing member firmly against the upper end of the key.

The key is removed by first loosening the nut 15, and then lifting the securing member by thrusting upwardly upon its shank and turning it so that it may be withdrawn through the openings 7 and 8 with the key.

While I have described my construction as relating to a vertically extending key, it obviously may be used in the horizontal position. The key firmly holds the yoke arms against spreading and yet is readily remov able from one side without the necessity of taking down any of the draft gear construction.

It is my intention to cover all modifications of my device coming within the spirit and scope ot' the following claims.

The

I claim: I

1. In combination with a draft joke. a key extending between the arms of the yoke and, passing through openings therein, a securing member having a shank extending axially through the key, a shoulder upon one end of the key adapted to bear against one arm of the yoke, and a T-shaped head upon the securing member at the opposite end ot the key, the shank being rotatable to cause the T-shaped head to extend laterally of the key and to engage the draft yoke upon both sides of the key.

2. In 'combination with a draft yoke, a key extending between the arms of the yoke and passing through openings therein, a securing member having a shank extending axially through the key,`a shoulder upon one end of the key adapted to bear against one arm of the yoke, and a T-shaped head upon the securing member atthe opposite end of the key, the shank being rotatable to cause the T-shaped head to extend laterally of the key and to engage the draft yoke upon both sides of the key, and recesses in the key end into which the T-head may be seated b-y axial movement of the shank when the T- head is in the locking position.

Signed at Alliance, Ohio, this 9 day ot' August, 1921.

EDMUND P. KINNE. 

